Local 22-Year-Old Student Writes Memoir On Her Stroke and Recovery

After a stroke-like episode left Trent University student Jenna Dakin with no memory, she picked up the pieces of the last two decades through recovery and writing.

22-year-old masters student Jenna dakin. photo courtesy of jenna dakin.

In December 2021, Dakin suffered a neurological episode that most resembled a stroke. She became unresponsive and paralyzed on her left side.

“I had a lot of cognitive deficits from it, but one of the main things that I acquired was severe retrograde amnesia, so all my memories prior to my stroke are gone.”

Dakin says that writing her memoir, 21 Cups, has helped her to navigate her amnesia and stroke recovery process.

“It basically was like re-starting the world at 21,” she continued. “I started writing as kind of a therapy tool and then next thing I knew I had half a book written. It was so therapeutic, and then I had this beautiful thing in front of me.”

photo courtesy of jenna dakin.

In just a moment, Dakin went from an average university student to learning how to walk again.

Just a few weeks before Christmas in 2021, she came home from a dinner out when she sat down on the stairs to take her shoes off.

“I suddenly slumped over and became completely paralyzed and unresponsive on my left side,” Dakin recalls.

The next thing she remembered she was in the hospital undergoing CT scans and MRI’s, after which she was told by neurologists of her stroke-like episode.

“People say I’m crazy because I never stopped school and I just kept going, but for me that was no question. Like I didn’t know who my mom was but I was like ‘teach me psychology because I’m continuing,’” she laughed. “If I didn’t have school I don’t know what I would’ve done. It gave me a purpose, it ignited that drive for me.”

After reaching out to a publisher at One Thousand Trees who “fell in love” with her book, Dakin was able to get it published earlier in March.

She highlights the unique perspective her memoir is told through, adding a positive spin to every setback she endures.

“I always say, I can’t find the words to be able to make other people understand what its like to go through this, to lose all your memories and restart the world. There’s really no way to describe that, but I think my book is a way to potentially show people what it is like in this world for me,” Dakin said. “I think this book (offers) the chance to view the world a little differently for a minute. Not everyone is lucky enough to experience all their firsts again, but I get to re-experience my first steps, my first words and more.”

Though Dakin is currently stable in her recovery process, she notes that having another neurological episode is a “very real possibility,” though she tries to not worry about that chance.

“I had 21 years kind of robbed from me, so I don’t want to live my life worrying that I’m going to lose more years. I’ve kind of realized that life is too short and I might as well cherish what I have right now. I just want to enjoy every moment that I can and not lose anymore of my life,” she said.

21 Cups is available on Amazon.

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Peterborough Public Library Self-Serving Book Kiosks in The Community

The Peterborough Public Library has self-serving book Kiosks in the Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre and at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre. 

photo courtesy of the peterborough public library.

Library staff restock the Kiosks weekly with popular adult and children's books. All you need is your library card for the easy to use the Kiosks.

How to check books in and out with your library card:

1. Scan the barcode on the back of your library card.

2. Enter your library PIN (your PIN is usually the last 4 digits of your phone number)

3. The door will unlock for you to open.

4. If you have books to return, place them on the shelves. It doesn’t matter where on the shelves you place them, please make sure they’re standing upright.

5. If you’d like to borrow any books, take them off the shelves and then shut the door.

6. The Kiosk will scan all the books inside. It automatically checks in any books you have returned and checks out any that you’ve removed.

7. Take your receipt.

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The Peterborough Public Library Announces First One Book One Ptbo Title Selection

The Peterborough Public Library announces the selection of the One Book, One Ptbo title: Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice.

moon of the crusted snow by Waubgeshig Rice, book cover.

Waubgeshig Rice is an author and journalist from Wasauksing First Nation. He has written three fiction titles, and his short stories and essays have been published in numerous anthologies. His most recent novel, Moon of the Crusted Snow, was published in 2018 and became a national bestseller.

He graduated from the journalism program at Toronto Metropolitan University in 2002 and spent most of his journalism career with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a video journalist and radio host. He left CBC in 2020 to focus on his literary career. Rice lives in Sudbury with his wife and three sons. His forthcoming novel, Moon of the Turning Leaves, will be published in October 2023.

One Book, One Ptbo aims to build community through the shared experience of reading the same book and participating in programs and events inspired by the themes found within the narrative.

“I’m thrilled and honoured that Moon of the Crusted Snow has been selected for One Book, One Peterborough. Connecting with readers through public libraries is a very special relationship, and I’m overjoyed that members of the Peterborough Public Library will have an opportunity to read my story through this important initiative,” said Rice.

Copies of Waubgeshig Rice’s book will be available starting in May. Community members can use their library cards to borrow this title in various formats, including traditional paperback, eBook, audiobook and even as a Book Club in a Bag kit.

The library will host programs to explore the book's themes this fall and is actively looking for community partners. If your organization is interested in hosting one of these programs, reach out to the Library before April.

Partial funding for this project was made possible by a grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough.

For more information visit the website.

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Mayor Jeff Leal Makes Statement Regarding Expected Drag Queen Story Time Protest at Peterborough Public Library

City of Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal and Peterborough Public Library board chair Dan Moloney have issued the following statements regarding protests at the Peterborough Public Library Drag Queen Story Time event on Feb. 25.

betty baker addressing fans outside the peterborough public library after drag queen story time on Jan. 14. photo by felicia massey.

“The City of Peterborough supports providing an inclusive, safe community for all residents. We strongly reject any act that incites hate in the community against any particular group. Thank you to the Peterborough Public Library for promoting an inclusive community, offering programming for all residents,” Mayor Jeff Leal stated.

The Drag Queen Story Time event will feature local drag queen Betty Baker sharing some of her favourite stories around the themes of diversity, inclusion and respect.

“The Library Board supports the Library in its endeavours to educate and support inclusivity. We are behind the Library staff and the offering of Drag Queen Story Time,” Library Board Chair Dan Moloney stated.

The City of Peterborough is a member of the Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities. Member municipalities must advance initiatives to:

1. Improve their practices for social inclusion

2. Establish policies to eradicate racism and discrimination

3. Promote human rights and diversity 

The Peterborough Police Service provides an online reporting tool for reporting hate/bias incident.

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Protests, Counter-Protests and Persistence; Drag Queen Story Time Event Comes to Peterborough Public Library

Regardless of planned protests, the Peterborough Public Library remains unwavered in decision to host local drag queen Betty Baker for Drag Queen Story Time event on Jan. 14.

Photo courtesy of The Peterborough Public Library.

The upcoming event is hosting 19-year-old Peterborough drag performer Betty Baker, and will feature children’s book readings, sing-alongs and puppet shows geared towards kids ages three to eight.

“The books that I read at storytime are about accepting oneself and being creative, and this month we’re specifically focusing on expressing yourself,” says Baker, who has been invited back for story time after the success of a similar event back in September.

As a queer person in a small town, Baker expresses that events such as this offer a chance for youth to enjoy a fun storytime hour and learn about themes of emotion and acceptance in a “fun, colourful, artistic, whimsical and family-friendly” way.

“I’ve been a queer youth in the community, and I was (now) given the opportunity to become the role model I never really had in Peterborough growing up,” they said.

Echoing this message, Mark Stewart and Karen Clysdale of the Peterborough Public Library say they are proud to be offering a variety of programs and events for any and everyone in the community, pointing out that Betty Baker embodies such diversity “flawlessly.”

“What better person to show people that you can be different and still be valued and included than someone who’s grown up in this community,” says children services librarian Karen Clysdale. “Somebody who can say ‘I’ve been there, I’m still here, and I’m happy,’ and I think Betty is a fantastic example of what children can look forward to, and should expect, from their community.”

The library says this will be the first event of a once a month program they are introducing. Clysdale says her and Baker have worked together to choose a number of books for the event from the library’s collection.

“The event is themed like any other story time that either me or my colleague do throughout the year, only we have a guest presenter. These (themes) are being introduced in a natural, age-appropriate way, talking on a level that kids ages three to eight are responsive to,” says Clysdale.

Stewart mentions taking advice from neighbouring libraries who have dealt with threats in the wake of hosting drag story time events, hiring extra security and notifying local police to ensure there will be all hands on deck during the event.

“We’ve covered all the bases to make sure everyone has a really good time,” he assures. “At the last (Drag Queen Story Time) the counter-protest was much bigger than the actual protest, and it was more like a party out front of the library. There was a lot of support from the community and the attendance at the storytime was the biggest I’d ever seen. I know that there’s a lot of love and support, and even that is another level of protection (against) protesters.”

Spearheading said group of protestors is Hill City Baptist Church pastor Ben Inglis and 2021 federal election People’s Party of Canada candidate Paul Lawton.

The pair started the Drag Queen Story Hour Protest event online, and believe that drag story time is seeking to “normalize the fringe” and that the messages portrayed are harmful to children.

“I think a basic reason that everyone coming to protest would agree on is a shared conviction that drag entertainers shouldn’t be practicing their ‘art’ within a hundred miles of kids,” expresses Inglis. “Drag is, and has always been a movement saturated in sexual expression; the costumes, the stage names, the mannerisms. You can’t escape it.”

Inglis says that parents/guardians who take their children to such events are making a “terrible decision they will regret later in life.”

“Everyone of sound mind agrees that there are some things that as a society we should not allow, that's why we have proscriptive laws. The argument that ‘people should be allowed to choose whether they go to Drag Queen Story Time or not’ presupposes that drag queen story time itself a good thing (or at least neutral), and endorsing it will contribute to a healthy society,” says Lawton. “Our contention is that we ought to live out our identities as male and female in the way God made us, and that we should protect children from the false and harmful ideas at the root of Drag Queen Story Time.”

Lawton recognizes the inevitability of counter-protests.

“In principle I have no problem with counter-protesting, frankly it seems only fair,” he says.

It’s through the support of these counter-protestors that Baker says drag queen story time events in the Peterborough community can continue.

“Of course it’s scary to have people spew misinformation and hatred towards you or a community you are apart of online, but the support I have received greatly outweighs any of that,” assures Baker.

The Peterborough Public Library’s message is clear: “Everyone’s welcome at the library,” says Stewart.

It is through this frame of mind that the library extends an invitation to the Jan. 14 Drag Queen Story Time event to its protestors.

“For the people that are coming out to protest this event thinking that it is not age-appropriate, I think they have no true understanding of the scope drag performance can take, and I invite them to come and watch respectfully,” says Clysdale. “I feel like the idea that drag is purely a sexual presentation comes from a lack of knowledge, and in the library we always encourage people to learn more about something that they don’t know enough about.”

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Peterborough Woman Writes Grief Memoir on the Death of Teenaged Friend

To help cope with her best friend’s tragic death, Patti Kimball wrote and published her book ‘Siren on Repeat: What My Best Friend’s Death Taught Me About Hope and Grief’ describing the story of grief and loss of Aprile McIntosh at the age of 14.

Aprile and Patti in January 1988. Photo courtesy of Patti Kimball.

In 1988, Kimball’s best friend died suddenly from a congenital heart condition.

“Aprile was the most cheerful, outgoing (person),” says Kimball. “The laughter just never stopped when you were around her.”

She says her fondest memories of McIntosh include dance parties at Club 404 in Peterborough, movie nights and shopping trips.

“We would all gather around and we dance a lot, we laughed, those were just really, really fun moments,” recalls Kimball. “We would go to those places and we would dance our hearts out for at least a good four hours.”

Photo courtesy of Patti Kimball.

On the day of her passing in February of 1988, Kimball recalls staying home sick that day and starting to feel better around 5 p.m. She received a phone call around 6:50 p.m. from McIntosh, asking if she wanted to go to the dance club with her and a couple of other friends.

“I told her I was not going to be able to go out, there was no way that my mom and dad were going to allow me to do that after I had been sick all day.”

“‘Are you sure that I can’t see you for just five minutes Pat? That’s all I need,’ and I said ‘Yeah I’m sure,’” Kimball continues. “Then she said ‘Pat? You’re the best, never forget it, and I’ll see you soon.’”

By 7:04 p.m., Kimball says, the ambulance had shot down her street. She lived at the top end of the same street as McIntosh, with her house at the bottom end.

“When the ambulance went by, I just got this really unsettling feeling that I couldn’t really figure out,” she describes.

Kimball recalls shaking off those bad feelings and going to bed. When she woke up in the morning she prepared to call McIntosh after breakfast.

“I went over and I start dialling her number, and I hadn’t even finished when I received a knock on my door from another friend, who came and said ‘Patti, it’s Aprile.’ I said ‘I knew it, I knew there was something wrong. What hospital is she in?’ and she just shook her head and told me it’s worse than the hospital, and at that point I knew exactly what happened,” says Kimball.

McIntosh had a congenital heart condition; she had multiple holes through the chambers of her heart, and had been in and out of hospital for many years according to Kimball.

While walking to catch the bus, she collapsed.

Kimball’s self-published novel ‘Siren on Repeat: What My Best Friends Death Taught Me About Hope and Grief’

Along with her group of loyal friends, McIntosh was survived by a sister, brother and two parents.

“All of us friends showed up to all three (visitations), together. It was about loyalty, and if that was any one of us Aprile would’ve done the exact same thing,” said Kimball. “We weren’t not going to be there for her or her family. We were there for all of it. None of us bailed out on her.”

As the years progressed, Kimball went on to graduate from a Social Service Worker program, working as a practical nurse with a focus on community nursing. She is also an Emotional Health Practitioner, a certified Mindset and Emotional Wellness coach trained in the Emotional Wellness Technique.

“When Aprile died it changed me forever. I became more compassionate and more empathetic,” said Kimball. “I gravitated to the helping professions, which is why I went into nursing and I’m a mindset and emotional wellness coach.”

Kimball’s call to help others, as well as processing her own grief, is what led her to write.

“There is not a right or wrong way to grief. I certainly don’t have all the answers but I wanted to be able to share what my experiences were so that someone else who’s reading it may be able to look at where they’re at in their own grief journey and be able to ‘do’ grief on their own terms,” said Kimball. “I wrote many poems processing my grief during that time period, and each time I sat down and I completed one I felt better. Then a few days later I would get this nudge that would tell me I had a lot more to say.”

This was when Kimball says she began writing Siren on Repeat.

“I wanted to honour her memory, and focus on who she was- and not her illness-, the legacy she left behind and the importance of human connection and what friendship really means. The power of those connections can get us to work through the grief and the pain that we’re feeling,” she continues. “The readers will step into my carefree, adolescent days of friendship, experience the shock and trauma of a grieving teenager and follow along my healing journey, to be able to leave the reader with a sense of inspiration.”

The self-published book was released on Oct. 31.

“Through the years I saw so many young people struggling with grief and loss, and I was one of those kids, so I felt a responsibility to support others through grief and loss because I lived it. I knew by sharing my story it may be exactly what someone else needs to hear,” said Kimball.

‘Siren, On Repeat: What My Best Friend’s Death Taught Me About Hope and Grief’ is a memoir that heals through storytelling, offering hope to the reader and author alike by dissecting her grief and honouring the memory of McIntosh.

Those interested in reading Kimball’s novel can click this link.

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Immaculate Conception School Gains Additional Library Funding From Chapters Fundraiser For

Immaculate Conception School became one of 138 schools in Canada to have its library benefit from proceeds made by the Chapter’s Indigo Love of Reading Foundation’s annual Adopt a School fundraiser.

Photos courtesy of Immaculate Conception School.

The majority of the school’s library budget comes from book fair fundraisers and new purchases have been slim since 2019.

The money will be used to grow the school’s S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) book collection, update their fiction series, create a Maker Space for students and increase the number of books they have by/about BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and) People of Colour) and other under-represented groups.

Donations are being accepted in person at Chapters Peterborough, located at 873 Lansdowne St. between Sept. 12 and Oct. 2.

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Local Author Donates 50 Per Cent Of Proceeds From Book Emulating The Feeling Of Anxiety To CHMA HKPR

Local author Erica Richmond will be donating 50 per cent of sales from her book ‘Pixie and The Bees’ during May to Canadian Mental Health Association of Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge.

Photo by Angela O’Grady

The story of Pixie and the Bees is about a young pixie that one day swallows a swarm of bees, though doctors can’t seem to help her and her friends don’t know what is wrong with her.

It is meant to tell the story of Richmond’s experience with anxiety, and her journey to a diagnosis, then to her learning to manage it.

According to a press release, Richmond believes that the community must work together to raise awareness and funds for mental health services.

“We are extremely grateful for Erica’s support as she donates 50 per cent of her book proceeds to our branch of the Canadian mental Health Association throughout the month of May and we congratulate her on the publishing of her book,” said Jack Veitch, CMHA HKPR.

Books can be ordered online here.

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Local Journalist Releases New Book of Peterborough's 1974 Undefeated Lacrosse Season

Peterborough’s greatest hidden lacrosse story comes to light as journalist Ed Arnold unveils his new book, “Peterborough’s Perfect Season: With Benny and his Jets” regarding the Peterborough PCOs undefeated 1974 season on Wednesday.

(from left to right) Tim Barrie, Don Barrie, Ed Arnold and Jason Hinton. The Lakers won two additional exhibition games atop their 46-0 record in 1974. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The 410-page book describes the 46-0 season the PCOs had en route to their third of four straight Minto cups. It depicts the team’s storm while reflecting on the city’s lacrosse history.

The title is a reference to PCO’s coach Ben Floyd when he and the team would walk out to the arena to Elton John’s hit song, “Bennie and the Jets.”

The season is a story that has not been talked about enough in Peterborough sports history according to Arnold.

“(It's) Not very well-recognized in Peterborough," he said. "There are no plaques and there are no banners. If someone says it would have happened in the States, they would have put it on a cereal box and would have made a movie about it."

The back and front of Arnold’s 410-page book. It took just over a year to research and write the book. Photo courtesy of Ed Arnold.

Lacrosse began on a cricket field in East City in 1972. Sullivan’s I.D.A. Pharmacy opened in the same year as the second oldest business that still exists in Peterborough. Arnold chose to celebrate the book’s release in front of the pharmacy.

He wants the book to create awareness of Peterborough’s accomplishments and the rich lacrosse history the city has to offer.

"That's one of the biggest reasons I did it," said Arnold. "To give them a legacy and hopefully someone will recognize it."

The book is available for $25 at Sullivan’s I.D.A. Pharmacy, Trent Valley Archives, and Happenstance in Lakefield. It is also on sale for at the Peterborough Lakers home opener at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on June 2 and on June 23.

Local orders can be made by emailing perfectseason46@gmail.com.

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New Canadians Centre Book 'Building A Home' Walk To be Hosted At YMCA

The YMCA of Central East Ontario is collaborating with the New Canadians Centre to host the ‘Building a Home’ Book Walk, from May 2 – 16, at the Balsillie Family Branch.

Author Cassandra Lee reads the book at the book launch, September 2021. Photo by Angela O’Grady.

Building a Home is a story inspired by the candid accounts and artwork shared by six children from Syria, Kazakhstan, Mexico, and Pakistan who are now living, playing, and going to school in Nogojiwanong-Peterborough.

The story panels will be displayed outside the YMCA, along the path from the front doors towards Princess Street making the exhibit fully accessible for all members of the community to enjoy.

Building a Home was commissioned by the New Canadians Centre and written and illustrated by Casandra Lee. Casandra Lee is an Asian-American children’s author and illustrator. She moved to Canada in 2019 and now lives in Peterborough.

@ptbo_canada “Building a Home” is based on the real-life accounts of six children from Syria, Kazakhstan, Mexico and Pakistan. 🔗 in comments to order! #PTBO #fyp ♬ Home - Edith Whiskers

Building a Home is available in several languages on the New Canadians Centre website.

“We are always honoured to work with our neighbors at the New Canadians Centre. Hosting the book walk is a way to bring this beautiful story to another audience. Diversity and inclusion is the key to a healthy, vibrant community and it is so important to feel represented and for us to listen and to learn from each other. We hope the community will take the time to visit and enjoy it,” said Naman Khandelwal, the Chair of the YMCA of Central East Ontario’s Diversity and Social Inclusion Committee.

Printed copies of Building a Home (in English) are now available for purchase in-store and online at Watson & Lou.